Burglar found living on beach in Tenerife
A suspected burglar has been arrested after being found living on a beach in Tenerife. The 29-year-old, from Stoke-on-Trent, was captured yesterday afternoon. He is wanted in connection with a burglary when he allegedly slashed his victim’s face.
Lejman, also known as Lehman, pictured left, had been placed on a list of the top 10 criminals police believed were hiding out on the Costa Del Sol in mainland Spain. Crimestoppers and the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) issued descriptions of the 10 individuals on the list in February.
After Friday’s arrest, Lejman will face charges relating to an aggravated burglary in Henry Street, Tunstall, in the early hours of December 28, 2008. Lejman, is accused of kicking the front door off its hinges with accomplice Lee Staples and making their way to the upstairs bedroom, where they threatened a man and his female partner.
Lejman is alleged to have slashed a kitchen knife across the man’s face, leaving him with a 6cm cut from his ear to his mouth. The man also suffered a broken cheekbone. Father-of-two Staples was jailed for five years in 2009 for his part in the attack, but Lejman, who has many tattoos including a pit bull’s head and the words “only the strong survive”, went on the run after failing to answer his bail.
SOCA and the Spanish police authorities were involved in the operation to track Lejman, codenamed Operation Captura. Once in custody, the suspects appear in a Spanish court before being returned to the UK under European Arrest Warrants. The operation, launched in October 2006, has led to the arrest of 43 suspects from a target list of 60.
Dave Cording, Crimestoppers’ director of operations, said: “Not only is the campaign successful in tracking people down in Spain, but it displaces them as well, but as we can see, no matter where these wanted individuals run to, law enforcement will find them. “I hope this further reinforces to fugitives, that you can run, but can’t hide forever.”
Ken Gallagher, head of European operations for SOCA, said: “Operation Captura is helping make the ex-pat community in Spain an uncomfortable place for fugitives. “Having the public’s attention focused on these individuals goes a long way to making it harder for them to hide.”
